Harvester fob peanuts and other plants



July 9, 192.9. R. D. BURTS HARVESTER EOE PEANUTS AND OTHER- PLANTS.

Filed March 22, 1923 5 sheets-sheet l H wwnumw" v .9 Y E p www@ www M .,...w *m@ w L@ :plm .www-WEL v EEE.

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AXIM@ July 9, 1929. R. D. BURTS 1,719,871

HARVESTER FOR PEANUTS AND OTHER PLANTS File@ March 22, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 9, 1929.. R. D. BURTS HARVESTER FOR PEANUTS AND VOTHER PLANTS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 22, 1923 NWN @N attoznaq July 9, 1929. R. D. BURTS HARVESTER FOR PEANUTS AND `OTHER PLANTS- FledMarch 22, 1923 5 Sheets-Shet 4 @muy July 9, 1929. I- R. D. BURTS 1,719,871

HARVESTER FOR PEANUTS AND OTHER PLANTS Filed'March 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 9, 1929.

RE'UBLN D. BURTS, OF SYLVESTER, GEORGIA.

HARVESTER FOR PEANUTS AND OTHER PLANTS.

Application filed March 22, 1923.

My invention relates to a inachine designed more particularly for harvesting peanuts, but not confined to that use when adapted for other uses.

lt has for its obect to construct a machine wherein the gathering wheel inay be swung or adjusted laterally to keep in' line with the rows of peanut vines and the traction-wheels may also be kept parallel to the vine rows although the row of vines may be irregular or curved in line instead olf straight and thus the gathering wheel gri ppers are always presented in proper relation to the vines to grasp 'the vines for lifting them troni the ground r and the traction wheels are prevented troni traveling` or running on top ot the vines in the travel or the machine. It has also for its object to provide :tor delivering the harvested vines into a receivin receptacle wherein the vines will be laid substantially or practically in a lat spread-out position, one on top oit another, instead oit in a tangled or indiscriminate fashion or manner, thus torining a pile when discharged from the receiver with the vines in the best position for further handling and threshing. lt has also for its object to provide improved means for raising and lowering the trame carrying the gatherin g wheel and the plow to suit the conditions et the plants at the time oit harvesting, and also to lning the manipulation of the various parts underready7 easy and convenient control ot the operatm'.

'l'o the accomplishment of the Yforegoing and such other objects as may hereiiia'liter be made to appear, the invention consists in the construction and the combination oli various parts hereinafter more particularly described and then sought to be clearly defined by the claims. reference being had to the ac companying drawings iforming a part hereoin and in which `Figure l is a side elevation of the harvester;

Figure 2 'is a side elevation7 'troni the opposite side;

Figure 3 a top plan view;

Figure Ll a liront cleifation, partly in vertical cross section on line Ll---fl of Figure 3;

Figure 5 a plan view, with parts omitted7 showing the auxiliary 'traine 'shitted and traetien wheels oblique to the longitudinal axis ot main traine Serial No. 626,957..

Figure 6 a side view of the gatherer wheel and seine parts with others omitted;

Figure 7 a detail view, partly in section` on an enlarged sca-le, of the forward end o auxiliary traine and cross rail or track.

ln the drawings the numeral l designates a main traine supported on upright standards 2 and 2, preferably tubular, and mounted upon uprightspindles 3 and 3 which. at their lower ends are connected with the traction wheels l and l so that said wheels serve to support the whole super-structure. The lower end of standard Q, has a boxing 5 in which is rotatably mounted a shat't 6 which carries a bevel gear 7 at one end and upon which also is 'freely mounted the traction wheel 4l upon the hub ot which is a pin 8 that engages with the teeth of a clutch collar 9 keyed to the shaft 6 and under the influence of a spring 10, the tension oli' which may be regulated by a nut 11, so that in the 'forward movement of the wheel the shaft 6 will be rotated while in the backward movement the Wheel will turn without rotating the shaft 6. The spindle 3 has a pin 12 which passes through a transverse slot 13 made in the standard so as to permit a restricted rotatable movement between the standard and the spindle 3. rlfhe lower end et spindle 3d has an outwardly extending` axle 14- on which the wheel la is mounted so as to turn thereon, and the spindle 3a has a laterally extending stud or pin l5 titting in a vertically extending slot 16 in the standard 2 so as to permit the spindle and standard to have a vertical movement relatively one to the other so as to compensate Vtor irregularities in the ground over which the harvester travels and thus obtain an adjustment that will enable the superstructure ot the harvester to be maintained in a substantially horizontal plane. The slot 16 in the standard 2 is also of sutlicient width to permit a restricted rotatable movement between the stai'idard and spindle Btl.

From the main traine l there is hung or suspemled an auxiliary 'traine that carries the gathering wheel and plow and associated operating parts and which is suspended in a manner to be given a lateral movement or swing to keep the gathering wheel in lin e with the rovi 'it 'vines and also a vert al or tilting); movement te 'ir-i1 er drop the h ai" 21mg wheel Yao and also the plow out oit or into operative relation to 'the peanut vines or plants. rlhis auxiliary trame preferably comprises or is made up et oppositcly disposed connected together' side members 1S, the forward ends of the side members being spaced apart by a sleeve 19 through which passes a shaft 20, and from the ends oi the side members cxtend upwardly yolres 2l having 'friction rollers 22 resting upon a cross bar or rail 23 which extends from one side to the other ot the main trame l, and tor bracing purposes one yoke is connected to the other by a bracebar Q4, and thus the forward end ot the auxiliary'trame is slidably supported from the main trame. The rear end oit the auxiliary trame is fuispended by a link 25 connected at one end to a cross rod 2th extending from one side member to the other et the trame 18, by a roller support 27 permitting the auxiliary :trame to slide sideways on the roller support, the other end ot the link being connected to a crank-arm QSce-nnected to a sleeve 29 mounted on a cross sha'lft 30 connectingfone side et the main Jrzune to the other side and the sleeve 29 haa/'ing another crank-aim 3l attached to it to which is pivotally connected onel end oit a link 32 the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever pivotally supported from the main trame and which will bel provided with any well known term of springlatch to engage a toothed segment 34; to hold thev lever to its adjustment. The sleeve 29 is revohible and may be under the influence of a spring 35. Through the means described the auxiliary frame with the elements carried by it may be lifted so as to regulate the depth. of cut of the plow and elevation yot the gatherer wheel hereinafter described, er itor .raising the same out of( v ,rative posi 'ons in relation to the ground in transportation et the harvester, the amiiliary .iframe in such adjustments turning `or swinging on the shait 20.

'ln rum g overnneven or sloping ground, the superst-ructure ot the harvester is brought to a substantially horizontal posit-ion so that the gatherer wheel and plow will ellieiently function by the 'following devices. On one end ot the revoluble sha-tt is a crank-arm 3G connected by a link 87 with a ybell-crank lever 38 one arm el which is pivotally connected to a linlr 39 the other end el whicl is pivotally connected to the pin or stud l5 j )rojerting from the spindle 3 of the ground or traction wheel lfgand to the opposite end et' shalt 30 is a crank-arm l0 vwhich is connected by a rod or link el to a lever 42 which will have a spring-latch oit any well known torni :tor locking engagement with a toothed segment 43. By movement ol the lever in one direction the side ot the main. trame nent to the spindle 3 will be lowered so that .if the other side ot the frame has dropped by its ground. wheel running on the down slope of the ground the main 'trame will be brought into substantially a horizontal plane, while on the other hand ii the side next to the spindle 3 drops by reason of the ground wheel at that side running on the down slope oi the ground, a movement of the lever l2 in the opposite direction will raise that side so that the main iti-ame will be brought to a substantially horizontal plane. fin equalizing spring 44 which may have one end attached to the revoluble shait 30 and the other end to a ixed part ot' the trame and preferably normally under tension will assist in restoring the lowered side oi the trame to normal position when the le ver l2 moved in the proper direct-ion, and also serves to equalize or balance the main lrame.

The gathering wheel is journaled con" 'ally between 'the sidev members ol' the auxiliary trame 18 in suitable boxings lt comprises a sha'tt 4:6 journaled in said boxings7 a hub 47 secured to the shaft by a set screw d8,

or otherwi a, to rotate with the sha'lft, spokes i di) connect a rim 5() to the hub7 gripping lingers or jaws 5l located at the wheel rim and a am 52 tor timing the opening and closing of the iingers in gathering the poanut vines and deliverii'ig them to a receiving receptacle. Each aw or linger comprises two oppositely disposed hinged members 51 Connected by links 53 to a rod or stem 5l one end oi' which carries a friction roller bearing against the face of cam 52 which is formed so as to open and close the jaws at the proper time to grasp the peanut vines to pull them from the ground and again open them at the proper time to release the vines to be taken by proper devices Yfrom the gathering wheel and delivered to the receptacle provided for that purpose. rl`he jaws begin to open in the rotation ol" the gather-- ing` wheel at the point where the roller end oi the stems comes into contact with the swell 5G ot the cam which continues the opening or sj'ireading apart olf the jaws until the roller end o't the spr lader stem leaves the highest point oi the swell at which point a spring 57 encircling the stem and which has been compressed during the travel oit' the stem expands and retracts the stem so as to close the jaws which grip the 'vine and litt the same in the continued rotation oil the wheel until the stems in succession reach the swell. 58 which presses the stem outward so as toopen the jaws at the point where the vines will be moved away from the jaws by means provided for the purpose, and as the stem leaves the swell 58 the recoil o the spring will retract the stem and close the jaws untilthey again reach the swell 56 whereupon the cycle ot' operation is repeated. The cam 52 is rotatable on sha'tt etti and may loe shifted rotatably thereon by suitable .means7 for instance by an arm 5S) which may be held to its adjusted position llt) Li l) so as to hold the cam to its adjustment by a bolt and nut (l to a slotted bracket (31, or otherwise. This adjustment is provided tor as itsometimes is desirable to change the time ot opening and closing the gripping jaws of the gathering wheel depending on the spacing or other conditions ot the vines, and thus provision is made for this timing` for opening and closing the jaws. The jaw spreading stems 54 are guided `in their sliding movements by an annular band 62 through which they pass; and the gathering wheel spokes 49 also pass through this band as shown. The plow Ytor digging or uprooting the peanuts is designated by the numeral G3 and is supported trom the lower sides ot the traine 18 by brackets 64 in a manner to permit the plow to yield under an excess ot strain, 'for instance by pivoting the plow shanks 65 to the brackets 64tand pivotally connecting links 66 at one end to the plow shanks and at the other end to arms G7 extending trom the brackets and pivoting bolts 68 to the links 66, which bolts are encircled by springs G9 bearing at one end against arms 67 and at the other end against nuts 70 on the bolts so that when the plow is forced backward it will be against the resistance of the coil springs and when the excess pressure is relieved the plow will be restored to normal by the springs.

The gatherer wheel is driven or rotated from sha-tt 6 of traction wheel l by bevel gear 7 of shatt 6 meshing with bevel-gear 71 on transmission shaft 72 having a bevel-gear 73 at its other end which meshes with a bevelgear T-l on the shaft 2O which at one end has a sprocket-wl'ieel 75 'from which a drive-chain T6 passes and engages a sprocket-wheel 77 mounted on the end ot sha'lt 46 to which the hub oil' the gat-herer wheel is keyed or fastened. The transmission shaft 72 is made in two parts connected together by a gimbaljoint 78, or its equivalent, and is supported in suitable brackets and boxes, 'for instance by bracket 7S) and a bracket 8O having boxings 81 and 82. The joint in the transmission shaft 72 permits oscillatory movement ot the wheel axle G in a horizontal plane without throwing the bevel gears 7 and. 71 out of mesh and also relieves the parts ot strain in shitting the auxiliary 'trame from side to side as hereinafter described.

Not all rows of plants or vines are regular or straight.- in length; accordingly provision is made `tor shitting laterally or sidewage.; the auxiliary traine carrying the gatherer wheel so that the gripping aws ot the wheel shall be brought into alinement with the vines to be gathered. This is elfected .in the preferred form by connecting a rocking lever 83 by a link 811- and strap 85, or otherwise, with the spacing sleeve 19 at the t'ront end ot' the auxiliary :t ame and attaching to oppositely extendig arms S6 the lever rods 87 which at their other ends are pivotally attached to foot levers SS which may be pivoted or tulcrumed to a side member ot the main trame and within convenient reach oit the operator who will occupy the seat SQ. By pressing on one toot pedal lever S8, or the other as may be, the rocking-level. 83 through the connecting link will shift the auxiliary frame sideways whose yokes will slide on rail Q3, and stirr up Q slide along` the transverse rod 2G, so to bring the gatherer wheel into alinement with the row ot vines where the same departs -lrom a straight line. At the time that the auxiliary il'rame is shifted the traction wheels 41- and 4f are moved -from parallelism with the trame to an oblique angle thereto, vt'or instance as illustrated in Figure 5 oil the drawing. This is ell'ected b y a rod 90 connecting the axle oit wheel el with the auxiliary iframe through a bracket D1, or` otherwise, and connecting the wheel lwith the auxiliary trame by means of aI rod 92 attached at one end to the bracket T9 and at the other end to bracket 80, or otherwise. This shitting oit the wheels along with the shitting ot the auxiliary Ytrame causes the harvester ground wheels to keep between the rows o'i vines in following the irregular line et the rowsn and also makes it possible for the operator to more quickly shift the gatherer wheel to ali nement with the row than would be it directing the Vline ot travel was dependent on guiding the dra'tt animal of the harvester,

The peanut vines carried up by the gripping jaws to the point oit discharge are engaged by a rotating toothed wheel 93 on a shaft journaled in brackets U5 and by that wheel delivered to a traveling` toothed belt 96 passing around a pulley Si journaled in the brackets 95 and a pulley 9S journaled in brackets 99 deijiending from a guiding trough 1U() pivoted at one end to the brackets 95 and suspended in an inclined position above the open upper end oit a receiving receptacle or box 101 by a hanger 102 having a roller 103 capable of traveling on a cross rod 104i connecting the uprights 105 rising trein the receptacle or box 101 which is supported. by arms G exteiiding from the rear o'lE the main 'trame of the harvester. The sha. tt of the pick or leed roll U3 has a sprocket wheel 107 around which passes the drive chain it and also a toothed wheel 108 which meshes with a toothed wheel 109 on the shatt ot pulley 97 so as to drive the carrier belt 9G. The peanut vines delivered to the carrier belt 96 are carried up the guide trough 10? and discharged from the upper end of the trough into the receiving box or receptacle 101 into which they are deposited one upon the other in a spread-out or substantially tlat position making a stack oi superimposed layers oi" vines without being in. z, tangled-up nass, suspendi e the upjjier lUU end ot trough 100 by the travelin hanger the trough may follow the side-wise movement of the auxiliary trame in its lateral adjustments and thus the vines will be properly deposited in the box 101. This box has a hinged side door 110 and a hinged bottom 111 tor the discharge ot' the pile or stack of vines from the box 101. The doors are simultaneously opened by means ot an elbow lever 112 pivoted to the side ot box 101 and. havingl one arm connected by a link 113 to the door 110 and the other arm connected by a link 1141 to the door 111. The elbow lever is actuated for opening the doors by a rod 115 connected to one arm of the elbow lever and at the other end connected to a hand lever 11G tulcrunied to the side ot the main traine. ylhe two doors are closed by a spring 117 connected at one end to the arm 106 and at the other end to thev linlr 113, said spring being distended when the two doors are opened and its recoil closing both doorsthrough the elbow lever and links when the hand lever 116 is released or moved to closing position.

The traction wheel L1 may have teeth or studs 118 on its Atread to increase the traction and a spacing sleeve 119 may be litted to the shaft 1G to aid in positioning the cam 32 on the shaft.

The operation and functioning et the various parts will be clear from the description parting from essential features olf the invention.

Having described my invention and set' forth its merits what I claim is:

1. A vine harvester' comprising a rotatable gatherer wheel provided with aws for gripping the pl ants, means for timing the opening and closing of the jaws to grip and release the plants, means tor shitting the gatherer wheel laterally to aline its jaws with the plants, traction wheels, and means for shifting the traction wheels obliquely as the gatherer wheel is shifted laterally.

2. A vine harvester comprising a main and an auxiliary frame one movable laterally in relation to the other, traction wheels supporting the main 'frame and mounted to permit horizontal rotatable movement of the wheels in the lateral movement of one trame to the other, a rotatable gatherer wheel mounted on the auxiliary frame and provided with aws for gripping the plants, and means for timing the opening and closing off the jaws to grip and release the plants in the rotation et the gatherer wheel.

3. In a vine harvester, an auxiliary "frame,

the plants, a cana operatively amnestie( with the jaws to time their opening and closing to grip and relase the plants, a main frame from which the auxiliary frame is supported, traction wheels for the main frame one of which may turn in a horizontal plane and has associated therewith a gear driven from the wheel, a power transmission` shaft having a gear meshing with the aforementioned gear and provided with a second gear, a rotatable shaft provided with a gear meshing with the said second gear, and means connecting said shaft with the rotatable gatherer wheel, whereby said wheel may be driven from the traction wheel in different horizontally disposed positions oi the traction wheel.

4L. A vineliarvester comprising an auxiliary trame, a rotatable gatherer wheel supported by said frame and provided with jaws tor gripping the plants, a cam operatively connected ywith the jaws :tor timing their opening and closing to grip and release the plants, a main trame trom which the auxiliary frame is supported, one frame having a lateral movement in relation to the other,

ytract-ion wheels supporting the main trame and mounted to permit horizontal rotatable movement of the wheels, power transmission means connecting one traction wheel with the gatherer wheel, and means connecting one traction wheel with the other `for changing the horizontal disposition ot the wheels.

5.v A vine harvester comprising a main frame, traction wheels, an auxiliary frame hingedto swing from one end of the main trame and slidable along a. rail at the same end of the main frame, a rod supporting the rear end of the auxiliary traine with which said frame is slidably connected, means for vertically adjusting the frame through said rod, a rotatable gatherer wheel provided with jaws Vfor gripping the plants, a cam operatively connected wit-h the jaws for timing their opening and closing to grip and release the plants, power transmission means carried by the auxiliary frame and driving the rotating gatherer-wheel 'from one traction/wheel, and means tor moving the auxiliary frame laterally in relation to the main trame.

6. A vine harvester comprising an auxiliary 'frame supporting a gatherer wheel provided with jaws to grip the plants, and means for timing the opening and closing oit' the jaws to grip and release the plants, and a main frame havingl traction wheels, said wheels being connected with upright spindles rotatably mounted in upright tubular standards to which the main trame is attached, one of the spindles and standards having a vertically slidable relation one to the other, a lever connecting the main 'frame and said spindle, a crank-shaft, a connecting rod between said lever and crank-shaft, an operating lever connected with the crank-shaft :tor actuating the lever connected 'with the wheel 'spindle to raise and lower tae mainframe to ascemi-nom date it to irregular ground, and an equalizing spring to facilitate Jche operation of the lifting levers.

7. ln :i vine harveser including a pla-nt gatherer and means o withdraw plants :from the gatherer; a traveling conveyor to Convey plants delivered from the gatherer; u guide trough for plants on the Conveyor, a reeeptaele to receive the plants carried by the conveyor, and means '['Or slidahly Supporting the 10 outer end of the guide trough above the open Jfop of the receiving receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

R. D. BURTS. 

